Sound recording and reproducing machine.



N0. 628,8!3. Patan ted July ll,. I899. H. JONES.

SOUND RECORDING AND BEPROOUOING MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 17, 1898.) (No Model.)

M VIIIIIIIIIIl/Illlllllllllllllllllzfi W Q A Uniirn Tarts HENRY JONES,OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,813, dated July 1]1899.

Application filed December 17, 1898. Serial No. 699,555. (No model.)

To aZZ. whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY JONES, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Sound Recording andReproducing Machines, of which the following is a'fnll, clear, and exactdescription, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in gramophones and othersound recording and reproducing machines of a like nature; and theprincipal object of my said invention is to improve the construction ofthe recording and reproducing mechanism, especially that part known asthe sound-box and stylus-supporting bar, by means of which the sounddelivered from the receiver is greatly improved and a clear and distinctarticulation obtained.

lVith this object in view my invention consists in providing a simpleand efiicient means for securing the diaphragm in the sound-box, wherebyit can be easily and quickly removed and replaced without unscrewing anyof the parts.

My invention further consists in providing a sound-box constructed insections and having the different sections insulated from each other, soas to prevent any harsh or metallic sounds that might emanate from thestylusbar and stylus-point from being communicated to the receiver.

My invention still further consists in an improved construction ofstylus-bar and the manner in which it is secured to the soundboX frame,and also in providing an improved spring or springs connected to thesaid stylusbar and to the sound-box frame for returning the saidstylus-bar and diaphragm to normal position after it has been acted uponunder the impulses of the sound-waves produced through the styluspoint.

My invention further consists in the construction, combination, andarrangement of the different parts, such as will be hereinafter fullydescribed, and particularly pointed out in the claims made hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,and in which similar letters of reference are used to indicate similarparts, Figure l is a front elevation of a sound-box and stylus-barembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a central sectional view taken on theline 2 2 of Fig. 1., having a sleeve for holding the stylus-pointomitted. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the sound-box having the bracketfor supporting the stylus-point removed and illustrating the springs forreturning the stylus-bar and diaphragm to normal position. Fig. 4 is aview similar to Fig. 3, illustrating a modified arrangement of springs.Fig. 5 is a detail perspective illustrating the knife-edge bearingsbetween the stylus-bar and the sound-box frame. Fig. 6 is a detailperspective view of one of the springs for 'the stylus-bar. Fig. 7 is anenlarged detail section through the knife-edge bearings.

In carrying out my invention I provide a sound-box A of the ordinaryshape and size, provided with the usual tubular sleeve A for connectionwith the trumpet or other receiver. The front part of the said sound-boxA is formed of an independent box or ring a, open in front and havingits outer rim or flange curved or bent over, as illustrated at a in Fig.2 of the drawings. A circular tube or gasket a is fitted against theback of the box a, against which rests the diaphragm B, and a secondrubber tube or gasket a is fitted on the other side of the saiddiaphragm B and held in place by means of the bent or rounded edges a ofthe box-rim. These rings being of flexible material, it will be readilyunderstood that by contracting them they can be easily removed from thesound-box frame and the diaphragm B released. The section b of thesound-hox consists of a metallic disk having formed integral therewiththe tubular sleeve A. Between this and the section a is interposed aring 0, of rubber or other so u nd-non-conducting material. A metallicring d, having an opening in its center through which the tubularsection A passes, is provided, and interposed between this section d andthe section b is a ring c of soundnon-conducting material. The sectionsa, b, c, d, and e are securely fastened together by means of the screwf, and around the apertures provided in the section b is secured arubber sleeve Z1, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. It will thusbe seen from the above-described construction that the diaphragm Bisentirely insulated from the son ndbox and that the tubular section A isalso insulated from the section a of the sound-box, which tends tominimize or prevent grating or metallic sounds from being transmittedfrom the stylus-bar to the receiver.

On the lower edge of the sound-box is a projection 0, having aprojecting flange c for supporting the stylus-barD. On the lower surfaceof the flange c are formed knife-edges d, located at each end of thesaid flange and adapted to fit in V-shaped grooves 0Z formed in theupper surface of the stylus-bar D. These knife-edges 01 may either beriveted in the section 0 or cast therewith or screwed in, as illustratedin dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings. On the edge of the stylus-barD is a lug e, and on the rear edge of the flange c is a lug e locateddirectly opposite the lug e. To the lug e is secured one end of a flatspring E by means of the screw e while the other end of the said springE is secured to the lug e by means of the screw 6 This end of the springE is formed with a forked or slotted portion f, through which the screw6 passes. A recess or cut-away portion (2 is formed in the stylus-bar Dabove the spring E, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. It will beseen that one end of the spring E is rigidly secured to the stylus-barat a while the other end is loosely secured in its slot f to the screw 6which is carried by the lug e of the sound-box frame. A second spring Eis provided, located by the side of the spring E, but secured in anopposite manner, as illustrated most clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings.The rigid end of this spring E is secured to a lug 9, formed on the backedge of the stylus-bar D, while the slotted end f is engaged by a screwg, carried by a lug 9 formed on the front edge of the flange c of thesound-box frame. A cutaway portion 9 is also provided below this springE. Thus as the stylus-bar D is vibrated by means of the sound-wavestransmitted from the record through the styluspoint the springs E E acton the said bar D to return it to normal position, the spring E actingin the one direction, while the spring E acts in the other direction.The knifeedges cl act as pivots upon which the said stylus-bar D swings.

The lower side of the stylus-bar D is secured to bracket H, havingformed thereon a sleeve h, adapted to receive the stylus-point I. Theset-screw h is provided in the said sleeve h for securely holding thestylusIin position.

In Fig. 4: of the drawings I have illustrated the springs E E as beinglocated on the stylus-bar D near the ends thereof, so as to more evenlydistribute their pressure upon the said stylus-bar and at points nearerthe pivotal knife-bearings d d When I employ this arrangement, I haveboth the springs E and E secured at one end to the stylusbar D andhaving their other ends loosely held by the screws 6 carried by thesoundbox frame and exerting their pressure in one direction only.

While I have described and shown the use of the double springs E E andprefer this form, a single spring might be used with good results.

Various slight changes and modifications might be made in theconstruction of my device without departing from the spirit and scope ofmy invention. Hence I do not desire to limit myself to the exactconstruction shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, a sound-box open at itsfront end, a diaphragm adapted to said sound-box, and a flexiblespring-ring adapted to fit snugly in the sound-box for retaining thediaphragm in position, substantially as described.

2. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, a sound-box having adiaphragm located therein, flexible rings located on each side of saiddiaphragm, and an overlapping rim formed on the sound-box adapted'topartly embrace the outer ring and hold the same in position.

3. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, a sound-box comprisinga section, a, a diaphragm located therein insulated from the sound-box,a stylus-bar carried by the section, a, a section, I), having a tubularextension for attachment of the trumpet, a layer of sound-non-eonductingmaterial, 0, located between the sections, a and b, a ring-section, d,and a layer of sound-non-conducting material, 6, located between thesections, 1), and d, substantially as described.

4. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, a sound-box comprisinga section, a, a diaphragm located therein and insulated therefrom, astylus-bar carried by said section, a, a section, 12, having a tubularextension, A, apertures formed in said section for the reception ofbolts, sleeves of insulating material provided in said apertures, asection, 0, of sound-non-conducting material located between sections,a, and b, a ring, d, a layer of sound-non-conducting material betweenthe sections, (1 and d, and bolts,'f, for connecting the said sectionstogether, substantially as described.

5. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination withthe soundbox and diaphragm, of an extension formed on the lower edge ofsaid sound-box, knifeedges formed in said extension, a stylus-bar havinggrooves adapted to receive the knifeedges, and springs connected at oneend to the stylus-bar and at the other end to the sound-box extension,substantially as de scribed.

6. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination of 'asound-box and diaphragm, a stylus-bar pivotally connected to anextensionon the sound-box, knife-edge bearings for said stylusdoar, anda pair of flat springs, E, E, one of said springs being rigidlyconnected at one end to the stylus-bar and loosely connected at its endto the soundbox While the other spring is rigidly connected at one endto the opposite side of the stylus-bar and loosely connected at itsother end to the opposite side of the sound-box, substantially asdescribed.

'7. In a sound recording and reproducing machine, the combination of asound-box, a diaphragm carried thereby, a stylus-bar, knife-edgebearings between the stylus-bar and sound-box, a pair of flat springs,E, E,

each rigidly connected to the stylus-bar, but on opposite sides, havingtheir other ends loosely connected to the sound-box frame on oppositesides, recesses, e and 9 provided in the stylus-bar under the respectivesprings,

and a bracket, H, secured to the stylus-bar for supporting thestylus-point, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day ofNovember, A. D. 1898.

HENRY JONES.

Witnesses: BENJ. F. PERKINS, HonAcE PETTIT.

